Tape dispenser



Oct. 9, 1951 -T, G, SCHAIBLE 2,570,724

TAPE DISPENSER Filed NOV. 4, 1946 33 ze o oV Il',

z# 2 q- N V E N TO R 23 Hfonokc Scf/AIBLE /0 25 BY ATTORNE Patented Oct. 9, 1951 UNITED TAPE DISPENSER Theodore G. Schaible, Mountain. View, N. J.,.as signor of one-half to Harold G. Kendall,. Brook lyn,.N. Y., and one-half toGeorge H. Fritznger,

West-Orange, N. J.

Application November 4, 1946,Serial No. 707,610

' 12 Claims; (c1. V1641-7845) This invention relates to a. device foi-dispensing lengths of` pressure-sensitive tape,andmore particularly .to an improved mechanical dispenser' It is an object to provide a mechanical dis-v penser'which' is adapted particularly to meetl the n'eedin retail storesV for vanleffective and simple means for dispensing diierent predetermined lengths of pressure-sensitive tape for sealing packages; Y

vIt is another object to'provide a dispenser by which varying lengths' of pressur'eesensitive t'ape can'- be dispensed andi picked upy by hand in less time and withglessrconscious effort than is req'uiredlby the dispensers of such' tape' now commonly used. A

It'gisl another object o-provide an improved dispenser which isadapted for feeding out' various selected lengths of pressure-sensitive tape'across a table with the' adhesiveV sideV facing upwardly whereby the lengths-may be picked up by adhesive contact.

It is another' object to provide a device which is adapted to enable strips( of pressure-sensitive tape of predeterminedV length to' be dispensed', picked'upby the'v hand and' severed from' the supply roll by an ordinary simple manipulation of thefhand.

Further objects` and features of my invention are to provide aL mechanical dispenser for pressure-sensitive tape which i's` arranged to enable thevuse of a light and inexpensive'housing, which has acheap andi Very'simple operating mecha'- nism' andl which is adapted to permit the new rolls to be easily installedY and the machine to be maintained easily in working condition.

Other objects and features-oiDA my invention w-ill more-fully appear in the followingdescription and the appended claims;

In the descriptionv of my invention; reference is hadto the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure lisa verticalsectional view of a pre'- ferred embodiment of tape dispenser according to my invention,taken substantially on the line I--LoflFigure 2; y

Figure 2 is-atop-plan-view of this dispenser;

Figure 3 is afractionalV side elevational View showing the mechanism of the dispenser in` its actuated position andthe housing insection` substantially on the line 3-3 of FigureZ; andl Figure 4 isa fractional sectional view taken substantially` on the linee- '4- ofv Figure 1.

The present dispenser has a one-piece housing Ill-Which may'suitably'becast of metal or moulded of.v plastic. Thisisa hollow housing open at the bottom and of rectangular shape as viewed from the top. Thehousing has al flat back wall lila andsides- Illb=whichl are flanged outwardly at the bottom to.v give the housingl a greater seating. surface; Atiitslforward-porticn, the housing: has=a downwardly sloping top surface I0c which forms a table for supporting or backing the dispensed tap. Y The top wallV of the rearward portion of the housing has a clearance opening Il for a supply rolll2 of pressure-sensitive tape. This roll has a central'core I3 at the axis of which there is re.- movably! mounted a shaft I4 the ends Ma and lith-of which extend beyondthe sides of the core; These shaft ends seat in bearings I5 and I6 which are depressions in-the top wall of the housing'at the sides `of thelclearance opening I I.. Preferably, the bearings have different widths and the shaft ends-have different diametersv adapted to fit the respectivebearings so that then roll can be mounted in only a correctrposition. .In the present machine,. this position is one wherein as tape' is drawn forwardly from the roll,lthe adhesive side thereof will face upwardly away fromk the hous- 1ng y The table Ic is.' suitably curved on an arc about a centerline Il at the base of the housing. Between this table and thesupply roll at a slight distance above the housing there is a roller .I8 journalled on a horizontal transverseshaftgl that iscarried byan` upright. standard 2l! atrthe left side ofthe. housing, 'I'liis roller engages continu'.- ously the.. adhesive side of the tapel drawn, from the supply roll and tends to hold the tape in ad- Vance thereof"A in a forward direction andv ad'- jacent tothe table I0c.

The feed mechanism for mechanically drawing the tape from the supply roll comprises ya feed member 2l' which has a surface 2Ia for holding to the tape by contact with the adhesive side thereof'. Preferably, I mechanically hold the tape in adhesive contact with this surface during the feed stroke. This is done by providing a member 22 for backing thetape engaged by the feed mem.- ber, `which is carried-withthe feedmemberand against which the feed member is urged as the tapeis pulled-from the roll,` as will hereinafter appear.. In their initial positions the. members 2| and .22 lie above the rearward portion of the table Ille! just to the front of the guide roller. I8 (Figure 1') The-surface 2 la may be flat or curved but when itis curved' itis preferably made convex,.as shown, and the cooperating surface of the backing member is then made` concave so as` to vconformthereto.

, according tothe feed resistance.

rear of this slot there is a transverse opening 28. This is a clearance opening through which the members 2| and 22 are passed in assembling the feed mechanism in the housing.

The feed member 2| is a turned-over portion of a lever 34 that is pivoted at 35 to the lever 23 at the left side of the latten The lever 34. extends upwardly also through the slot 2'|, and is biased over center by a tension spring 36 which is at the right side of the lever 23, the spring being connected between a lug 31 on the lever 23 and K a rightly bent lug 38 on the lever 34. Being at the right side of the lever 23, the spring 36 holds the lever 34 slidably against the left side of the leverA 23 and, as Yal result, the pivot 35 is permitted to be a simple pivot stud, as shown. When the feed member y2| is in its lowermost position, it isurgedby the spring 36 against the backing member 22 as shown in Figure 1, but as the .lever 34 is Aswung upwardly the spring 36 passes over the pivot 35 and then urges the feed member into its released position shown in Figure 3, the angular movement of the lever 34 being typically about 30rdegrees. The released position of the feed member is defined by the abutment of a lug 39 on the lever 34 against a lug 40 on the lever 23. ,To prevent a metal clang when these lugs meet, the lug 40 is covered with rubber 4|.

. At the front of the housing the lever 23 has a forwardly projecting arm 23D which extends through a slot 29 in the table lc. OnY the end portion of this arm there is secured, by pins y30, a handle 3| which extends throughout the width of the housing and overlies the front portion of .the table luc. members 2| and 22 are carried forwardly across 'the table Ille, and when the handle is released thesel members are returned by a tension spring 32 connected between thelever v23 and a pin 33 onthe housing. 'Ihe returnedposition of the lever 23 is defined by its abutment against the housing at the rear edge of the opening-128.Y In `its movement the lever 23 is heldstable. against sidewise play by its engagement with .the slots 21 and 29. I

On the lower portion of the lever 34 there is a -lug 42 bent leftwardly towards the left wall of the housing.Y As the handle 3| is depressed through As the handle 3| is depressed the Vthe final portion of its downward movement, the

lug 42- impinges against a stationary pin 43 on vthe housing and swings the lever 34 upwardly to move the feed member 2| into its released position. When the handle is released it is returned -bv the spring 32 as are also the members 2| and `22 with the feed member 2| being retained in its raised` or released position by the spring 36. As the lever 23 nears the end of its return travel, the lug 42 is impinged against a second nin 44 on the housing to swing the lever 34 downwardly and bring the feed member into engagement with the tape T backed by the member 22.

The feed member thus engages theadhesive rside of the tane and takes hold of the tape by the adhesion of the tane to its surface 2|a. As the handle 3| is depressed to swing the feed member vforwardly the pull of the tape on the feed member ,causes the latter to be drawn against the backing .member with a pressure that is proportional to the feedresistance ofthe tape and, as a result,

the grip of the feed member on the tape varies This is a highly advantageous feature because it results in the 4 tape being held positively by the feed member without slippage even though the dispenser is actuated sharply as by an impact blow against the handle 3|.

As the handle 3| is depressed a length of tape of preferably about 1%" is drawn from the supply roll and then the feed member 2| is disengaged from the backing member 22 as above described. The disengagement of the feed member is effected by advancing it in an oblique direction away from the backing member so that its surface 2|a is turned to angles greater than from the tape leading therefrom to the supply roll. As a result the tape supply is stripped free from the feed member in response to the said resistance of the tape caused in part by the adherence of the tape to the roller |8 and in part by the adherence of the outer convolution to the back side of the next adjacent convolution of the supply roll. The dispensed length of tape which is so freed from the feed member is held adjacent to the backing member 22 under the guiding influence of the roller I8 as shown in Figure 3. Upon the release of the handle 3|, the backing member is returned along the non-adhesive side ofthe delivered length of tape and the feed member is moved in a return path at a clearance distance above the tape until it nears the end of its return travel, whereupon it is reengaged with the tape as above described. If a length greater than 11A is wanted the handle 3| is actuated several times in succession, depending upon the particular length desired.

Secured by screws 45 to the feed member 2| is a blade 46 which has a cutting edge 46a spaced ahead and preferably slightly above the feed member. Itis against this cutting edge that the delivered length of tape is to be drawn by hand and severed from the supply roll. The distance of the cutting edge ahead of the feed member is at least as great as the distance of movement'of the backing member 22 following the disengagement of the feed member therefrom-which is the distance between the dash-dot and full-line positions of the backing member shown in Figure 3. By so positioning the cutting edge relative to the feed member the delivered tape will always extend beyond the backing member and will not be buckled back on itself as the backing member is returned. After the members 2| and 22 are returned, the delivered length of tape in advance thereof is picked up by touchi. e., adhesive contact of the finger of the hand with the upper adhesive side of the tape-and is then gripped by placing the thumb therebelow as the tape is raised from the table 0c. As an incident to lifting the tape from the table, it is drawn against the cutting edge 46a and is cut olf from the supply roll. Thus, upon performing a simple manipulation as the hand is removed from the handle 3 a desired length of tape is picked up in such position that it can conveniently be applied to seal a package or aiiix it for any other purpose. Since the tape is delivered by merely striking a handle one or more times, depending on the length desired, without having to take hold of the tape and draw it by hand from the roll, and can then be picked up by a simple manipulation as the hand is removed from the handle, it will be understood that the present machine is adapted to enable lengths of pressure-sensitive tape to be dispensed in less time and with less conscious effort than can be done with the dispensers commonly used. Moreover, because the tapefis delivered by pressing S downwardly on-V 'the handle, 'the` housing can. be made 'relatively light land at 'reduced cost'.

I havel hereinabove describedf'the-.memberf2li as a ffeed member andi-the member l2.2y as aY backing member, which is in accord'withtheir primezfunotions. From another viewpoint; however, these members may-'bel referred t'o-as clamping members because iin. their operation they do clamptheftape and! hol'd thereto by the adhesive contact of. the tap'ewithl the member 217| I have herein particularly described ai preferred embodiment of' my invention but it Will be= understood-'that-this embodiment is'illustrative and' not limitative of my invention as thesa'me is 'subject te changes andi modifications without` departure 'fromithe scope of' my'invention, which I endeavor tofexpre's's according to the following claims-1 I claim:

12'. Infa machine fordispensingk lengths 'erpressure-sensitive tape; including a frame'anda sup'- ply roll of" tape rotatably mounted'j on saidfframe: the combination of a pair of cooperating tapeclamping members mounted for reciprocat'ive movement with respect to -said frame, means pivoting the one clamping member at' the adhesivesi'de ofl the tape to its cooperating clampingmember on a pivot axis ahead of'said 'clampchine including` a frame andY means rotatably 'i mounting; saidrollA n saidframe.: thezc'ombi'n'ation of a pair of tape-clamping. membersreciprm cable from and to. an. initialV positionzwith respect to said frame, means pivotally. connecting the one clamping member at the adhesiveside ofthe', tape to 'its cooperating''clamping` member on -apivot axis which is offset from the non-adhesive side of the tape and positioned ahead' of the'. clamping I6 member .and adapted for severing` ,sainy length from the tape supply' upon. drawing; said'. length thereagainst while` thevfeed member is initsf'returned position..

4'. The method of pulling a length of tape against' 'a- 're'si'st'ing force which comprises .holding thetape in adhesivecontact withI a surface; advancing vrsaid :surface-t0 exert'. a pull on the tape While 'concurrently pressing against the non 'adhesive' side of the tape to preventl slippage of the tape relative to said surface whereby to-'cause membersl with respect to their direction. of' adfrom the other clamping member, means progressively actuatable for advancing said clamping members to pull a length of tape from said roll and thereupon further advancing said one clamping member in an oblique direction away from the other clamping member about said pivot axis to release it from adhesive contact with the tape, and means associated with said one clamping member and effective when said actuatable means reaches the end of its forward travel for holding said one clamping member displaced from said other clamping member until the clamping members are returned to initial position.

3. In a machine for dispensing lengths of pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll: the combination of a tape feed member having a surface for contacting the adhesive Side of the tape, said feed member being mounted for reciprocative movement; means for advancing said feed member to draw a length of tape from said roll and thereupon release the feed member from adhesive contact with the tape; means for reengaging said feed member with the tape when the same is returned; and a cutting edge carried with said feed the' tapev` tobe pulled against said force; withdrawing said? pressure from the non-'adhesive side ofthe tape and turning -said surface to more than from theA 'adhesive' sideof the tape extending therefrom, and further advancing saidk surface while the pressureon the non-adhesive sideof the tape is Withdrawn and .said surface is at more than 18`0' from the tape extending therefrom whereby to cause the tape to. be strippedv fromthe surfacebyl said resisting force.

5'. A reciprocatory'feed mechanism for dispensing lengths of pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll comprising areciprocable feed member having'a surface for'releasably contacting the adhesive side of the tape, 'means for reciprocating 'said feed member, and:` a cutting edge vcarried with said feed'l member for severing the dispensed lengthsfrom the tape supply as said lengths 'are pickedup and drawn against said edge.

6. In a machine for dispensing 'lengths of pressure-sensitive tape from a Vsupply roll: the combination of a substantially horizontal surface for supporting the 'dispensed lengthof tape; means engaging the adhesive side of the tape drawn from saidl rollV for holding the dispensed lengths of tape 'adjacentto said: surface, a feedmember having an initial'position-adj Iacenttofsa-id holding means wherein-it engageslthe adhesive side' of -the tape, means for advancing; said feed member across said surf-ace while thev Afeed member holds to thetape topull` the same from the rolland for thereupon: further'advancing the feed member to release lit from thetafpe, means for'returnin'g said feed member in a path substantially above said surface and thereupon reengagin'git withY the adhesive-'side of the tape, and? ay cutting edge carried with'v said feed member for severing the dispensed length of tapefrom the tape supply' as saidlength ispickedA upV from saidv surface and drawn'against' sa-idedge.V

7. In a machine for dispensing lengths of pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll: the combination of a table over a rearward portion of which said tape lengths are delivered with the adhesive side facing upwardly, said table having a downwardly sloping forward portion, a pair of horizontal vertically-spaced tape-clamping members overlying the rearward portion of said table and movable forwardly and rearwardly thereacross, a handle at the front of said table depressible to advance said clamping members and pull alength of tape from said roll, means for raising the upper one of said clamping members in the final portion of the downward movement of said handle to release it from the tape and for holding the same raised until the clamping members are returned, and means mounted on said upper clamping member having a cutting edge for severing said lengths from the tape supply as the same are drawn thereagainst While the clamping members are in their returned positions.

8. In a machine for dispensing lengths of pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll: the combination of a table having a fiat rearward portion and a downwardly sloping forward portion, means for pulling lengths of tape forwardly across the .rearward portion of said table with the adhesive -side of the tape facing upwardly, a blade carried V'with said tape-pulling means and against which v1the delivered lengths are drawn and severed from :the roll as an incident of pickingsaid lengths up :from said table, and a handle depressible to actu- :ate said pulling means, said handle being positioned directly ahead of said delivered tape lengths. f

9. In a machine for dispensing lengths of pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll, including :a frame: the combination of a reciprocable mem- -ber movably mounted on said frame and adapted .for backing the non-adhesive side of the tape drawn from said roll, means engaging the tape ldrawn from said roll and tending to hold the tape iin advance thereof adjacent to the path of move- .ment of said backing member, a clamping member at the adhesive side of the tape and cooperating with said backing member, means for simul- .taneously advancing both of said members while the same are engaged to pull a length of tape from :said roll and thereupon advancing said clamping vmember in an oblique direction away from said backing member t release the former from adhesive contact with the tape, means for holding said clamping member displaced from said backing member as said members are returned, and means causing the clamping member to reengage the tape upon the return of said members.

l0. rlhe combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said clamping member is pivotally connected to said backing member for advance movement in an oblique direction away from said backing member, including over-center means cooperating with said clamping member for releasably holding the same in its released and engaged positions respectively.

11. In a machine for dispensing lengths of pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll: the combination of a hollow unitary housing having a forward table portion and having a rearward portion adapted for pivotally supporting said roll, a transverse shaft mounted on a lower portion of said housing, a reciprocable lever pivoted on said shaft, a transverse member on said lever and overlying thev rearward part of said table for backing the non-adhesive side of the tape drawn from said roll, means on said housing between Y8 said backing member and said roll for holding the tape strips in advance thereof normally in a direction substantially parallel to said table and adjacent to said backing member, a clamping member cooperating with said backing member and pivoted to said lever at a point t0 the front of and below said backing member, over-center means for releasably holding said clamping member in engaged and released positions respectively, and abutments on said housing against which said clamping member is impinged'to operate the latter into said released and engaged positions during the nal portions of the advance and return strokes of said lever.

12. A reciprocatory mechanism for pulling lengths of pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll comprising a frame, reciprooable tape-clamping means comprising a backing member at the non-adhesive side of the tape movably mounted on said frame and a cooperating feed member for adhesively contacting the adhesive side of the tape backed by said backing member, actuatable means for advancing and returning said tapelclamping means with respect to said frame, means pivotally connecting said feed member to said backing member on an axis offset from the non-adhesive side of the tape engagedl by said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Number Name Re. 22,972 Fritzinger Feb. 10, 1948 1,299,087 Winterhalter Apr. 1, 1919 1,305,342 DeSmith June 3, 1919 2,156,502 Lawton May 2, 1939 2,364,051 Berridge Dec. 5, 1944 2,486,470 Fritzinger Nov. 1, 1949 

